A Rushenden man - accused of carrying out a sex attack on a woman- snubbed his trial.

Tony Ellis refused to attend his trial at Maidstone Crown Court and was convicted in his absence.

Now the 48-year-old has refused to come to court to hear his sentence.

Ellis told a jailer at Elmley Prison on the Isle of Sheppey: "I'm just not going."

But that didn't stop Judge Stephen Thomas from jailing him for three years - after issuing a life ban from contacting his victim.

Ellis was found guilty of sexual assault and assault causing actual bodily harm which happened in June last year.

The judge, however, ensured Ellis, of Manor Road, Rushenden knows his fate by sending a copy of his words and the restraining order to his cell.

The jury had heard how Ellis and his victim had been drinking and smoking cannabis at a house in Sheerness.

Prosecutor Karen Dempsey said the victim went to the toilet only to be followed by Ellis who grabbed her private parts over her clothing and said: "Come on, are we going to do this?"

The victim punched her attacker in the face only for him to punch her in the ribs and he also left a bite mark on her hip.

He then left the property.

Ms Dempsey said earlier the friends had exchanged text messages when Ellis became vulgar.

"He said he wanted to have sex," she added.

The court heard the woman replied in no uncertain terms, she did not want that to happen.

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